As a educator, I am really excited about this project. Any time I teach a unit on art, I hope to be able to include this as a companion project.

The assignment is to create an artwork from the “failures” of other artworks. In ceramics, this happens all the time. I started saving my failed pots and turn them into a hand-built sculpture.

Failure is information-we label it failure, but it’s more like, ‘This didn’t work, I’m a problem solver, and I’ll try something else.’ – Carol Dweck

At each stage of this project, the artwork must not be considered precious. After this is fired, I could smash it and reassemble it in a new form. The important part is to put as much effort into the design process every time you create.

“I believe ability can get you to the top,” says coach John Wooden, “but it takes character to keep you there.… It’s so easy to … begin thinking you can just ‘turn it on’ automatically, without proper preparation. It takes real character to keep working as hard or even harder once you’re there. When you read about an athlete or team that wins over and over and over, remind yourself, ‘More than ability, they have character.’” – Carol Dweck